The directive comes after UPA allies and Left parties give a go ahead to the Govt to allow admissions to general, SC and ST categories for the coming academic session.

After days of uncertainty, government on Friday issued a directive to all Central educational institutions to commence admissions for General and SC/ST categories asserting "every constitutional and legal" measure will be taken to ensure the OBC reservation.

The directive to 64 Central government funded institutions, including IIMs and IITs, came after UPA allies and Left parties gave a go ahead to the government to allow admissions to general, SC and ST categories for the coming academic session without the OBC quota for the time being.

"... The offer of admissions to the ensuing academic session in Central Educational Institutions shall, until further communication, be limited to the approved intake that existed during the academic session 2006-07," the directive said.

It also made it clear that "no offers of admissions shall be made until further communication in respect of seats that are proposed to be expanded during the ensuing academic session." HRD Minister Arjun Singh told reporters on Friday that notwithstanding the order, the commitment of the government to the principle of reservation to OBCs is irrevocable.

"We shall explore every constitutional and legal procedure by which to ensure it," he said.